The Portland daily press., 1887-09-27
IN FIGHTING TRIM.
Volunteer and Thistle Ready to Race
for the Famous Cup
And the Championship of the Yacht
Fleets of the World.
The Thunderer Confident That the
scotchman win Win.

NEW YORK, Sept. 26.-The Volunteer was
lowered into the water from Tebo's Sonth
Brooklyn drydock at $50 this morning. in
the presence of several hundred people. and
as she floated the crowd raised a hearty
cheer, which Captain Half responded to by
raising his cap and smiling happily. Nv
noon the sails were bent and the centre
board hung. Neither General Paine nor
Mr.. Burgess were aboard Final prepara-
tions were also completed on the Thistle
Near the Scotch vessel lies last wears cbal-
lenger, the Galatea. Lieutenant Hem saws
he couldn't miss the coming races. Captain
Barr said he was praying for a good day and
fresh breeze. .sThe papers say the VoInp- ar
teer can beat us in stiff weather." said he
with a wink, but hope we have it Just the
same"
The police boat Patrol will 60 down the
bay tomorrow to the yacht race to preserve
order and be ready for any emergency re-
quiring prompt assistance. The Commis-
sioners today decided to put Inspector
Byrnes in charge Of her, with a Sufficient
force Of men. The Police Commissioners
Will also be on board.
The Famous Cup.
The Americas cup was originally the One
Hundred Guinea cup, the cup which the
Royal Yacht Squadron put up at its annual
regatta around the Isle of Wight. This race
was open to all nations and to all sorts and
rigs of vessels, go-as-you-please affair,
with no allowance for size or rig. new
cup was put up each year, and the Yacht
Lnat 10y around hrst won the race absolute
ly. Ine winning Of the cup in snch a race
very often proved nothing more than the
luck Oh the yachts owner. The winning of
tne cup by the America was significant only
because OF the tremendous speed with which
sne ran away fromher competitors when all
mad the same wind and conditions.
Inc cup Is OF solid silver and weighs 100
ounces, tba . u Is exactly two feet high. In
.he neualilons around its broadeSt part are
inscribed brief histories of the cup and the
contests waged over it,
Booming the Scotchman.
LONDON, Sept 26.-The Times today dis
cusses at great length the relative merits Of
the yachts Volunteer and Thistle, and con-
cludes; "The so-ealled trial matches in
America, arranged for the purpose of select
ing the best boat to defend the cup, appear
TO have been very unsatisfactory, and taking
an impartial view, it does not appear that the
volunteer is much better than the Mayfiow-
er. Now what chance would the Mayfiower
have with the Trek? And yet the Thistle
was equal to beating the Irex without the
shadow OF fiuke about forty-two minutes
from the Rock Lighthouse to the northwest
Ilghtship in the match of the Royal Mersey
facnt Club. 1t is to be hoped that the
Americans will be as punctilious in practice
as they have been loud in profession that a
fair field will be accorded the rival vessels.
and, should the Thistle not be interfered
with; there, appears to be no reason why she
should not beat the Volunteer, as she can
sne lre4, aSay by IL or 20 minutes over a
forty mile course. That those identified
with the Volunteer realize the task they
nave before them is evident in their having
tried their champion with longer, and as a
consequence, heavier boom and gaff, and
an an easter be blowing home on either day the
Thistle will find her mast and boom punish
Ing her in the sea, yet in any kind of wealth
er there is but little doubt that she will
prove better boat than the Volunteer"